Sunday Sweets: Fifty Cakes of Gray
February 24, 2013 And now, Sunday Sweets presents: Fifty Cakes of Gray.
;)
Just kidding! There are only twelve. But they are gray and sure to spank delight the senses.
Unless you've been living under a totally unfashionable rock, you are well aware that gray is one of the hottest trends in Trendville right now. Less harsh than black, more ketchup-friendly than white, it's everywhere in the worlds of fashion, saucy literature, and decor. And of course...
;)
...Cake! This one combines two hot and happening trends: gray and ombre. Plus polka-dots, which will never go out of style.
Let's hope gray doesn't, either, because pretty much my entire house is painted gray. Some people might think that sounds depressing, but just look at this cake:
;)
By Charm City Cakes West Inspired by Nevie-Pie Cakes
Depressing? I think not! Gray is the perfect backdrop for a pop of color, which I love, unlike the phrase "pop of color" which, ugh.
But don't worry, colorphobes, gray and white make a fine duo, too.
;)
Sophisticated, simple and sublime.
And just think how much detail would have been lost on this cake if it had been white instead of gray.
;)
Would we have even noticed the lacy border? The delicate butterflies? Gray deserves an award for best supporting hue.
BUT! Gray ain't afraid to steal the spotlight.
"This girl belongs on a runway," was my first thought when I saw this cake.
;)
By Karla
Then I learned that it was modeled after a Vera Wang gown, and I felt totally smart and stylish for a second. Then I looked down at my ensemble of mismatched sweats and slowly lowered my hands from their 'raise the roof' position.
But can I get a "holla" for these cakes?
;)
By Erica OBrien
So sweet and modern at the same time. I just love gray and pink together, and that little cluster of roses in the center, too.
I'm also loving the color scheme on this cake. Freaking adorable. Seriously considering turning it into an accessory somehow.
;)
Cake hat? Cake purse? Cake belt buckle? I'll keep thinking.
And here's another one I just want to tear apart and wear!
;)
By Three Little Blackbirds Cakes
Once again, gray adds texture and interest while letting the color shine. Gray: the nicest of neutrals.
That should be its official motto.
But why am I trying to convert you to the Church of Gray? You're probably already a card carrying member.
;)
And if you weren't before, you are now, because WOWZERS. And the little touches of metallics? Swoonballoons.
There is so much awesome happening on this cake, but I think the gray tier is still my favorite.
;)
By Gateaux Inc.
I mean, it even matches the reception hall!
And here's one last gray-hued beauty for our grand finale:
;)
Isn't it great how all the ribbon and fabric look like actual ribbon and fabric? Just amazing.
I sure hope you enjoyed today's presentation of Fifty Twelve Cakes of Gray.
Annnnd... scene!
Fade to black.
Have a Sweet to submit? Send it to sundaysweets(at)cakewrecks(dot)com.
Reader Comments (54)
This so makes me look forward even more to our gray+ purple roses wedding cake we just ordered for our wedding! :)
The artistry on these cakes is amazing. But sorry, grey is still one of my least favorite colors :)
Grey is unusual for a cake, but these are outstanding. As a person with (prematurely) grey hair, and loving it, I find that this color can be a very flattering neutral - not so harsh as black - especially as we see here with yellow and pink.
And somehow, like with the lavender, it seems very Victorian, not sure why...
It's all kinds of shades of gray outside this this morning -- snowstorm ! I like these shades of gray way better. Love your commentary, Lindsey. (I also love the idea of a dress where I can eat a ruffle or two if I get hungry...)
shouldn't that be...."fade to grey"?
Gorgeous finds, Lindsey! If I had to pick a favorite, I'd choose #3. Or #12. Or #7 or #10 . . .
I really love the idea of colors each having their own slogan.
"Red: See it!"
"Blue: Feel it!"
"Brown: Smell it!"
Okay, this isn't going as well as I thought . . .
Just don't try to wear the cake. First rainstorm and you are going to be in trouble. Not to mention the raccoons. Or the seagulls.
Pale, pale gray (or grey for some people) + delicate color = stylish sophistication. Got it. Now off to raid my closet.
These cakes are beautiful! Never even thought that could be an effective cake color. I stand corrected.
The cakes are much better than that horribly written porn series.
And not a single armadillo in the bunch...
I was reminded of Billy Joel's Shades of Grey song: "Shades of grey are the cakes that I see, when I'm faced with the devil's pastry..." I think that's how it goes.
grey is one of my favorite colors (seconded only by pink), so i was elated by these cakes! all gorgeous. the ombre dots (cake #2) are amazing and actually require a good eye for color to get the step from darkest to lightest to look balanced and just right. and the grey-yellow trend - nailed it. twice!!!
(also, i live with an avid collector of vintage cake stands and this wk's offerings feature them prominently. nice to see these bakers taking the elevated design all the way to the thought of how the cake will be presented as well.)
as always, great and amazing workmanship! thanks for sharing!
I do think many of these are lovely, particularly the fourth one which looks like a cameo.
But I keep thinking every day as I read this wonderful blog: how do these cakes TASTE? Cakes are ultimately to be eaten, and much of how we approach food is by its appearance. Today's Sweets are lovely but I pause with the fork halfway to my mouth. There aren't many things that we eat that are naturally gray in color. I look at the sixth cake and admire the artistry for sure--but also hope that I wouldn't be one of the guests who receives a piece from that bottom tier with all the heavy gray swirls on it. Gray icing to eat? Guess I'll have to look & admire before it's cut, but eat with my eyes closed! :)
Thanks for expanding my cake horizons!
I've always liked gray, but I love it even more since my boyfriend has gray eyes. I looked into that book and didn't like it at all! However, I love these cakes! I wish I could create something like these masterpieces.
If I had to choose a favorite it would be auntie between the polka dots and the Vera Wang.
Wow! I would have thought that gray+cake would have equaled nothing except ick, but these cakes have proven me wrong. Wow, again!
The Sweet K cake is so perfectly grey shaded that it could have been in color but shot with black and white film. Beautiful detail work. But I agree with Lydia, grey is a nice nuetral but just not a favorite color. However, these cakes make grey shine!!
Simple and sublmine-beautiful :D
Okay, lovely artistry; I can truly admire the work that went into each of these cakes - but the color just turns me off completely. The idea of eating gray cake is just... repellant, somehow. Dye that frosting/fondant some nice pastel shade, and I'd vote "gorgeous", though.
Hey, a new diet plan! Gray food = unappetizing = lower calorie intake. Hmmmm.
These are simply gorgeous, but I can't even look at grey icing without hearing M'Lynn from Steel Magnolias in my head: "It's got gray icing. I can't even begin to imagine how you make gray icing!"
Before seeing these, I never would have imagined grey could be so beautiful. Especially on a cake! They're so gorgeous, I don't even mind that they're fondant!
Yes, this is a fondant rant for you baker/decorators out there. Take note of these exquisite creations! I've never been a big fan of fondant, especially when used liberally. But that seems to be the trend more and more. Some cakes look as though they've been shaped entirely from 50 pounds of the stuff. I call those "play-doh cakes". Fondant is barely edible as it is, and unless you peel and scrape it off, it ruins a decent tasting cake that's been encased in thick layers of the stuff. But nothing kills my appetite or aesthetic sense more than seeing a cake covered with heavy wads of fondant that's been squished and sculpted by hand into sagging, fingerprint-covered shapes. Yuck.
Anyway, if all fondant cakes were as lovely as these, I might learn to love the stuff!
I always look forward to your stunning Sunday cakes. These creators are skilled artists. I don't usually think of gray food being appealing, but these are so beautiful.
Thanks for showing the grey cakes.. wonderful
Swooning...
I'm having a hard time believing that the cake modeled after a Vera Wang gown is gray, and not just a black and white picture. There are a couple of others that I might have thought that about, except that there are other colors in them.
These are all beautiful cakes. But the idea of grey icing reminds me of the armadillo cake in Steel Magnolias. "It's got grey icing. I don't want to begin to think how you make grey icing!" :)
Lindsey,
The yellow cake as an accessory...for me it would have to be dangle earrings on silver gray hooks. Great post and sweet beautiful cakes.
Gorgeous...all of them!! And as a professional baker, I completely admire the talent. But it's unfortunate that black food coloring (which is used to make gray) tastes so powerfully horrendous. It's worse than red. BLARGH. Call me a cake snob, but I wouldn't be excited to eat any of those.
My wedding colors many moons ago were gray and pink. Wish I had thought about extending the color scheme to the cake and found the gray/pink number you have here--beautiful!!
I have number eight as a purse, well, at least the colour combo. It's the grey gilding on the rose edges that really sell it for me - like porcelain collectables. Glad grey has made it to cakes. As with interior decorating and wedding dresses, I'm just exhausted with all the white. Can't we just let it rest for a generation and let the grandkids rediscover it after we're all dead?
I wear cake too. On my hips, on my thighs, on my rear... These cakes are much nicer to look at. Trust me.
I love #6! A dress with frosting ruffles? Yes please!!!
The Vera Wang take off - yep, just like my daughter's wedding dress! Except it was all in ivory. I thought of it as loose rolls of toilet paper! Lovely cakes.
The polka-dot cake (#2) could be adapted into an awesome Doctor Who cake. It looks like the roundels from the classic Tardis control room.
Talking about wearing your cake reminded me of the old limerick.
There was a young man named Paul
Who went to a fancy dress ball.
He thought he would risk it
And go as a biscuit,
But a dog ate him up in the hall.
Awwww, c 'mon, Jen! You really had to do the whole "Fifty Shades of Grey" b.s.?! Don't justify that poorly written sack of words and pages! You're better than that, lady! That said, the cakes are all gorgeous. My favorite is the pale grey with the large pink cabbage roses.
the one by Bee's Cake Design made me gasp in appreciation. so very beautiful.
the one by Karla made me create a new Pintrest board for Beautiful Things and post that I wish I could have that ina dress- in gray, too!
@FM in butter cream, at least, even a medium gray shouldn't have a taste. it's black and red that make icing bitter when you go for a deep shade (which is why most black is chocolate icing tinted black- it takes less coloring)
Lovely cakes. I'm just wondering what our beloved(?) wreckerators would do with gray icing and it makes me shudder.
Sunday Sweets are NEVER PRETTY, especially not today.
They are simply beautiful.
I was amused to see tha someone else's first thought at the mention of grey cakes was an armadillo, too. (Must be a fellow southern woman!) I did think these cakes were too elegant for a tawdry 50 Shades reference, though. ("Gray-ceful" maybe? Sorry, couldn't help myself.)
Thank you for your comment about "pop of color". That is a phrase that makes me want to throw things.
Also- those cakes are GORGEOUS. Every single one of them.
The only way to eat a fondant-iced cake is to scrape the icing off, so it doesn't matter what the food colouring tastes like. Consider it there for the beautiful, sophisticated look.
These are beautiful... and... I am SO GLAD someone else hates the phrase "pop of color". I am so very, very tired of it. Or hearing how something "pops" against this color or that, or how a piece of clothing "makes your eyes pop". SERIOUSLY. WE NEED TO FIND A NEW PHRASE HERE, PEOPLE.
This post just gave me a genius idea and I'm going to flat out give it to you, no credit necessary. I'm sure you know that one can easily google cakes inspired by dresses, right? But where are all the dresses inspired by cakes??? You should pitch a partnership with Project Runway (mostly because I LOVE Tim Gunn) where the weekly challange is to design a look based on a cake, Sunday Sweets images provided by you.
You're welcome! I'm going home now because that is probably the best idea I will have all day, if not for the entire week.
I read "swoonballoons" as "swoonballs" for some reason, and now I have a new favorite word.
Reading on my tiny iPod I read that as "three little blackheads" and wondered what was in the frosting. Phew! BlackBIRDS!
Stunning cakes.
Am I the only Monkees fan here? I thought of their song "Shades of Grey".
http://youtu.be/SubpzqswJRE
Not the original video, but quite nice anyway. :)
LOL!! What fabulous cakes! I can't even imagine cutting one! They would just have to be on display at my house as part of the decor!
Gorgeous!
I've been a card-carrying member of the church of grey since I read Jane Eyre. That is, before it was chic. The first time. (80's).
Buddy from Cake Boss needs to see this post. He thinks that grey can't be done on a wedding cake. but this post shows that they can & they can be done quite brilliantly. :]
Being that there are 36 tiers of cake in this post, and well over 70 layers of cake, the average therein is 50, so the title is accurate. And the cakes are beautiful :)